Crowdfunding campaign to support the families of Manchester attack victims passes £1 million mark

A crowdfunding campaign to raise money to provide support for the
families of those injured and killed in the Manchester terrorist
attack has now raised more than £1 million in just over two days.

The campaign, launched by staff at the Manchester Evening News on
Tuesday morning, was created after readers got in touch with the
paper to ask how they could help in the aftermath of the attack.
It initially aimed to raise £250,000 but surpassed that target in
just over four hours, with a new aim to raise £2 million.

After growing rapidly all day on Tuesday and Wednesday, by
Thursday morning the appeal has reached a total of £1,261,597 and
is still rising. 41,255 separate backers have pledged money to
help victims' families.

"Manchester Evening News readers have been asking how they can
help, so we have started this fund to help support the families
in the aftermath of the attack," the description of the campaign
on fundraising site JustGiving says.

The MEN is now partnering with the British Red Cross on the
appeal.

"The money raised by the Manchester Evening News and its
readers will be administered by the British Red Cross, who are
offering support to affected families. All of it will go to the
families."

On Tuesday, the official Twitter account of the Manchester
Evening News tweeted to say that online fashion retailer
Boohoo.com — which has its head office close to the site of the
attack — has donated £100,000 to the campaign.